Autumn Stroll

A seven month gap between blog posts is acceptable, right? I have just read through four half finished blogs which were all attempted at moments where I thought that my brain was working enough to write and that I wouldn’t fall asleep or become distracted. Ridiculous!

What this says to me is that my year is bookended by quiet, reflective moments and everything in between is an absolute riot...which is a tad depressing. Posting now is also indicative of the influence the change of season has on me. A lazier writer would bore you at this point with clichés about enjoying the crispness of the air, the change of colour and smell around you, shorter days and all that Autumn jazz. And I do enjoy all those things but mostly Autumn feels like breathing space to me, which is the main reason I like it.

In between sentences I am creating a playlist called Autumn Stroll, which you can enjoy here, if you are so inclined. Creating playlists is a recent habit, I quite like it.

So what am I thinking about at the moment? Recently I read a blog by Pony Pie entitled Art, Money and Reasons We Do It Our Damn Selves and the way it resonated with me was almost like a physical sensation. Akin to being shaken vigorously and told no, really, you are not the only one who has thought and worried about this. I was particularly affected by the paragraph on the “DIY practitioner”, because of the stark and profound truth of it. When you are an unfunded artist or theatre-maker just trying to make work and forge a path for yourself, fighting against becoming downhearted, upstaged, exhausted and ready to quit is half the battle.

When I started Rhymes with Purple it was in response to knowing something that I didn’t need to be told. That ultimately not being a genius, a graduate of a certain institution or lucky enough to find oneself in with the worthy crowd were serious barriers, potentially insurmountable ones. If I wanted to create and stage my ideas then I had to do it myself. And nothing has been harder, more soul destroying and painful than the result of that decision.

Being deemed “worthy” has been a five year long argument and even after all that time we still haven’t reached maturity for the very reason that holding down other jobs to pay the bills and laying the foundations of a theatre company, even a tiny little one, requires a vast amount of work and energy. Don’t get me wrong, I am proud of what we have achieved, but we aren’t setting any creative fires yet because after the needs of the day are met fatigue begins to leech on the desire to experiment and create. I used to worry that this was making excuses, that in fact I wasn’t very prolific even though sometimes it felt like I was having a hundred ideas a second. Ideas that called on me to grab and anchor them but the weight of getting by prevented me from being quick enough before they flashed by.

When I read Pony Pie’s blog I felt relieved, reassured and a little less like an outsider. I’ve been at this since I was 19 and at 26 it has made me feel old and I am not going to pretend the thought of quitting hasn’t entered my head. But then, I’ve come pretty far; the job that pays my bills is in the arts and provides me the flexibility to be creative and thoughtful even though it’s extremely hard work. Despite always having a day job of some kind I have carried on producing, creating and making because for me failure is not an option. I can’t let being a DIY practitioner exhaust me because I have come too far to quit now. I believe what I am doing is worthy, the artists that I collaborate with and the audiences that come to the shows all appear to agree so stopping because it’s hard just seems like doing myself and my peers a disservice.

Reading Pony Pie’s blog on this debate, which does encompass and cast a critical and informed eye on all the wider issues facing DIY and subsidised artists, came at exactly the right time for me. Because although I know there is a wider discussion to be addressed, that it’s hard for everyone and that a solution is not rapidly forthcoming it inspired me. Like Pony Pie, I’ve always known that I am doing it all myself because no one will give me any money but now rather than seeing that as the catalyst for “artistic death”, I feel more than ever it’s a call to arms, the motivation to continue and fight because I value my artistic output, even if those handing out the “worthy badges” do not. And with that value I can survive. Pony Pie passed onto me her sense of knowing where I stand in relationship to “worthy” community oriented practice and practitioners, which is firmly on my own two feet right alongside them.

Special Agent Lucille reporting from Week 2 of the Edinburgh Fringe & beyond...

Right...well...I've not long crawled out from underneath my duvet where I have been hiding since the 12th.

I've managed a good solid 2 days of sleep catch-up (deprived doesn't even begin to describe my sleep reserves by Tuesday, we need to invent a new word). At present I am quaffing some cheap shite red wine before setting off for the Smirnoff Underbelly to appear at Sideshow, I feel that this helps the blogging process.

According to my last report I was about to embark on week 2 of my Fringe based shenanigans by appearing at the Ministry of Burlesque's 3-night run of Edinburgh High Tease at The Voodoo Rooms. I am delighted to say that this was a roaring success and tonnes of fun! Each night was packed out, with standing room only and then some on both the Friday and Saturday night.
The bill featured some of the burlesque and cabaret elite from across the world; award-winning songstress Dolores Delight, the queen of British burlesque, Kittie Klaw, the epitome of glamour and hollywood chic, Missy Malone, punk-burlesque icon Kitten on the Keys, compere and ukele extraordinaire Des O Conner (yes, alright, not the Des O Conner but rather part of a crack team of Des O Conner's whose mission it is to bring blisteringly good entertainment to the masses). Who else? The hysterical, can-can dancing experts Gypsy Charms & Viva Misadventure, London's vaudeville celebrities Pustra & Vile-een and of course the glamorous, bent on world domination, Molly Crabapple. It was such an honour to be performing amongst such talent, all of whom were some of the nicest people I have ever met.

During this run we had the Battle of Burlesque where some of freakiest and chicest new burlesquers of the UK fought it out for a covetted performance spot at this years biggest party, hosted by Bizarre Magazine, The Bizarre Ball. Bizarre were in attendance so expect announcements of the winners soon.

In between all of this, somewhere, Rufus and I taught a roving BBC Radio reporter how to fire-eat and juggle for the Fred MacAulay Show, being broadcast live every morning of the Fringe at the Spiegel Garden. This was a peculiar gig as it involved being in full clown make-up, on the street at 9am, doing something for the Radio that is entirely visual....hmmm. However, it was jolly good fun and great publicity. I can report that the reporter did succeed at least once with fire-eating and luckily was already a competent juggler!

So that was that; After the last MoB show on the 9th, I of course not knowing my limits spent far too much time with my drink tickets in the bar afterwards (I really can't be held responsible, the chat was very good!) which meant I went into one of the biggest events of my career on a measly couple hours sleep. Not to worry, fuelled by double espressos and cigarettes I powered on through.

On Sunday, The Dr Sketchy 1st Birthday Bash, at The Arches. I can't really begin to describe this event, I'm still in awe of its success. At double our usual capacity I am delighted to say that we filled the place for both the party and the art session beforehand. Kitten on the Keys was a joy and Glasgow loved her, as was predicted, her unique brand of punk cabaret and smutty songs was hilarious. Molly Crabapple received the royal welcome she deserved, it is after all, down to her that Glasgow has such a wonderfully entertaining way to spend a Sunday afternoon every month. She signed books, sold merchandise, had her picture taken - she got the celebrity treatment she deserved.

The show was incredible, everyone was well received and it filled me with pride to produce an event with such a stellar line-up of hugely experienced, talented and consummate professionals.
Although I was exhausted I had the time of my life, and the champagne backstage keep me going (my lushness knows no limits!)
On a rather exciting side note - Alisdair Gray was in attendance sketching at the session!!!!!! If you don't know who that is go look him up, you'll understand why I was humbled and excited by the fact he was there.

There are some hilarious and beautifully candid backstage shots courtesy of our amazing Stage Manager, Miss Carrie, up on the Sketchy MySpace, do have a look if you are remotely interested - www.myspace.com/sketchyglasgow.

Blissful and exhausted it was homeward bound, with a few guests, for tea and chat then bed by 4am (Again! Argh!)

The following day was a relative write-off until the evening when Molly Crabapple, myself and Rufus went to Edinburgh for her appearance in And The Devil Will Drag You Under - an eccentric and excellently produced cabaret show from Des O Conner and Pustra/Vile-een's Vaudeville.

This is where it gets messy; from there we joined Des for his appearance in Sideshow at the Underbelly after which we met with Missy Malone and the Sideshow team for 1 or 2 (perhaps 5) wee drinks. Time of course got away from us and it was about 4am before we realised we were still drinking, in Edinburgh and Molly had a plane to London to catch (in Glasgow!!!) at 7am!
Sleep, as I'm sure you have worked out, was not on the cards. But this doesn't matter, I can sleep when I'm dead, it was entirely worth it. If not only for the banter with such lovely people but to have Molly sit and sketch everyone beautifully as we all sat around enjoying ourselves.
I think that's everything, it's all been such a whirlwind. It will need to be all for now as I have yet another show to do this evening and must be off - see you in September!

Reporting from the glamorous world of showbiz...and I’m bloody exhausted!

Fringe madness has begun and it occurred to me that I completely neglected to blog the amazing time I had last year during the run of Waiting for Groucho, which considering some of the fantastic experiences and shows we had that is a crying shame. So since this is my first day off since the 31st I thought I'd take this opportunity to document some of the fun had thus far.
Things kicked off on Thursday 31 July with the rather spectacular List Magazine's Festival Launch Party at the glamorous (and prestigious!) Spiegel Garden. Apart from the fact that the weather was a tad inclement I thoroughly enjoyed swanning around as a silvery, white feathered show girl – even if my feathers did get a bit soggy and my complimentary bottles of 1881 beer didn't quite go with my outfit!

Myself, Daiquiri Dusk, Vendetta Vain & Cat Aclysmic were also assisting to promote TEAZE at the event, a glamorous burlesque fundraiser in aid of St Columbus Care Hospice that we will all be appearing at on Friday 22 August at Studio 24 – see my calendar for details.
Then from one party to another we swung by The Stand Comedy Club's Launch Party for a quick drink and injection of laughs before calling it a night. We got there just in time to see Tom Stade, one of my Fringe favourites, if you are looking for some comedy on your Fringe Wish List do try and see him (and Phil Nicol).

Sunday 3 August saw Rufus T Fahrenheit and I appearing at the first night of Fringe institution The Bongo Club Cabaret, as always this was riotously good fun and we were well looked after by fabulous producer – Wild Card Kitty. Our compere for the evening was Luke Wright, the motor-mouthed performance poet, whose wit and charm held the evening together splendidly. He has two shows this year at the Underbelly – Who Writes This Crap? and a Poet's Work is Never Done.Also on the bill was the beautiful, mini-starlette Amelie Soliel, the hula-hooping pocket rocket Anna Lamb (awesome!), international drag sensation Bunny Galore, our friend and wonderful performer Miss Leggy Pee and some rather handsome boys from a dance show at the Udderbelly for whom my only complaint was that they didn't remove their t-shirts! Phew, thanks to sponsorship from Red Stripe the beer and chat was flowing until 4am – got home a touch late!

On Monday 4 August we were back in Glasgow for the first class of our Fire Performance Workshops – this was a huge success, our pupils are all naturals and we expect to have some talented fire newbies on our hands. To promote the workshops Rufus, myself and class participant Daiquiri Dusk took part in a photo shoot for Closer Magazine, Heat Magazine and weirdly enough Marie Claire, who knew women's glamour mags were so interested in fire-performance?Laura from Channel 4s online lifestyle series, Bite, was also there taking part – we had her fire-eating within the hour and she interviewed us along with some of the pupils so keep your eyes peeled for that broadcast.

And finally Tuesday 5 August – Rufus and I were hot-footing it (literally!) back to Edinburgh for a photo call with Wild Card Kitty and cabaret super-star Kitten on the Keys to promote The Bongo Cabaret. These photos are going to look super; Rufus was fire-breathing across the venues quadrangle while we ladies pouted and posed! Keep an eye on Fringe Media publications to have a look.
Following on from the shoot we enjoyed a lovely lunch and a natter with Wild Card Kitty and Kitten on the Keys where Kitten enjoyed her first taste of Haggis! Or as she called it Haggis Nips & Titties!

Rufus and I were booked later in the evening to wow the crowds at The Skinny Magazine's Festival Launch Party, this was a huge amount of fun as we ran around as our cheeky clown characters fire-breathing and fire-eating for the glitterati of the Fringe. The party was sponsored by Miller's Gin & Spicebox so hooray for complimentary booze and nibbles, it's why I got into this game.

And LASTLY we were then lucky enough to score some free tickets to see the absolutely AWESOME Wau-Wau Sisters at the Baby Belly. Good Lord those girls are fantastic – a raucous, unpredictable and downright smutty burlesque/cabaret revue. The audience are part of the show, the girls perform acrobatics whilst playing their cheeky country songs and to be quite honest you'll just need to go see it because anything I say here will just not do it justice!
This show was accompanied by several beers in the cabaret bar so I'm feeling a little fragile, a little exhausted but plenty joyful!

I'm off to relax whilst I still can as the rest of the week is going to be jam-packed; Molly Crabapple is coming to visit, there's 3 nights with the fabulous Ministry of Burlesque at the Voodoo Rooms, Rufus and I will be attempting to teach a BBC reporter how to fire-eat and juggle for a spot on the Fred MacAulay show this Friday and then of course the hotly anticipated Dr Sketchy Glasgow's Birthday on Sunday at The Arches! Phew, if I'm still alive come Monday the 11th I will report all!